Is your Birthright Important to You?
The kids and I are continuing our study in Genesis in Kay Arthur's Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible study for Kids. We are now covering chapters 24-36 and learning about Isaac, Esau and Jacob. This week we discussed Genesis 25:25-34 where Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob.
First we did a cross-reference and looked at Hebrews 12:14-17. In Hebrews 12:16, we learn that Esau was considered godless because he "sold his own birthright for a single meal." Verse 17 shows us that later "when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears."
The Hebrew word for birthright means "the firstling of man or beast, the firstborn; the right of the firstborn." The Greek word for birthright means " a privilege, a birthright." And since we learned that Esau despised his birthright, we were given a word study for this too. In Hebrew, despised means "to disesteem, to not put the proper value on."
"The birthright is a privilege that belongs to the firstborn." (D4Y) We see in Genesis 25 that "Esau, Isaac's firstborn, did not put the proper value on the birthright." (D4Y)
Genesis 49:3 tells us about Jacob's firstborn, Reuben. He was "preeminent in dignity and power." This means that he was superior and stood out above the others. As the firstborn, he was the "beginning of Jacob's strength and might." Unfortunately, he sinned against his father and lost his birthright.
2 Chronicles 21:3 shows that Jehoshaphat gave Jehoram his kingdom, but gave his other children many gifts of silver and gold and precious things.
In Exodus 4:22 Israel is called God's firstborn.
Exodus 13:2 says the firstborn belongs to God and is to be sanctified. Verse 12 specifies that the firstborn was a male.
In Deuteronomy 21:17 we read that the firstborn received a double portion of all that his father had.
These Old Testament verses give us the background regarding what a birthright was and to whom it belonged. "The birthright belonged to the firstborn (the first male child). The firstborn was the beginning of the father's might and strength. He was to receive a double portion of the inheritance, and if the father had a kingdom, it was to go to the firstborn." (D4Y)
From these verses we learn that the birthright was important and that Esau treated it as if it had no value. "Esau cared more about satisfying his hunger than about the inheritance that belonged to him. Esau was not looking at future blessings but only at his needs of the moment. He did not control his appetite but gave in to his desires and gave up his inheritance for a bowl of stew. Isn't that sad? Do you remember how he was described in Hebrews? He was an immoral and godless person who later desired to inherit the blessing but was rejected. There was no repentance (a changing of the mind), only tears." (D4Y)
In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is the firstborn of creation as well as the firstborn from the dead. (Colossians 1:15) Now Jesus wasn't the first person to be raised form the dead, but He was "the first to have ever been raised from the dead to never die again!" (D4Y)
Jesus will return one day to take those who have accepted Him as Savior to live in Heaven with Him. This means that we have a birthright if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. Once we have accepted Jesus, we are children of God and share in His inheritance (Colossians 3:24; 1 Peter 1:3-4). (D4Y)
The question is "Are you like Esau? Do you value your inheritance in Jesus Christ, or is it worthless to you? Are you living for God's kingdom, or for the world in which you live? How do you know? Examine your heart and the things you do."
*Do you obey God and do what His Word says?
*Do you share the Gospel?
*Do you have self-control?
*Do you live for the moment, caught up in your feelings and desires, or do you think about your future?
"Remember, you are a child of God. You have an inheritance that is waiting for you in heaven. If you value it, then you will want to live the way God tells you to by doing what He says is right, whether it is easy or not. . . You have to decide how much you value God. Is your birthright important to you?" (D4Y)
Father God, thank you for the priceless birthright You have given me. Help me to live in such a way that I can honor this gift. Amen.
First we did a cross-reference and looked at Hebrews 12:14-17. In Hebrews 12:16, we learn that Esau was considered godless because he "sold his own birthright for a single meal." Verse 17 shows us that later "when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears."
The Hebrew word for birthright means "the firstling of man or beast, the firstborn; the right of the firstborn." The Greek word for birthright means " a privilege, a birthright." And since we learned that Esau despised his birthright, we were given a word study for this too. In Hebrew, despised means "to disesteem, to not put the proper value on."
"The birthright is a privilege that belongs to the firstborn." (D4Y) We see in Genesis 25 that "Esau, Isaac's firstborn, did not put the proper value on the birthright." (D4Y)
Genesis 49:3 tells us about Jacob's firstborn, Reuben. He was "preeminent in dignity and power." This means that he was superior and stood out above the others. As the firstborn, he was the "beginning of Jacob's strength and might." Unfortunately, he sinned against his father and lost his birthright.
2 Chronicles 21:3 shows that Jehoshaphat gave Jehoram his kingdom, but gave his other children many gifts of silver and gold and precious things.
In Exodus 4:22 Israel is called God's firstborn.
Exodus 13:2 says the firstborn belongs to God and is to be sanctified. Verse 12 specifies that the firstborn was a male.
In Deuteronomy 21:17 we read that the firstborn received a double portion of all that his father had.
These Old Testament verses give us the background regarding what a birthright was and to whom it belonged. "The birthright belonged to the firstborn (the first male child). The firstborn was the beginning of the father's might and strength. He was to receive a double portion of the inheritance, and if the father had a kingdom, it was to go to the firstborn." (D4Y)
From these verses we learn that the birthright was important and that Esau treated it as if it had no value. "Esau cared more about satisfying his hunger than about the inheritance that belonged to him. Esau was not looking at future blessings but only at his needs of the moment. He did not control his appetite but gave in to his desires and gave up his inheritance for a bowl of stew. Isn't that sad? Do you remember how he was described in Hebrews? He was an immoral and godless person who later desired to inherit the blessing but was rejected. There was no repentance (a changing of the mind), only tears." (D4Y)
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Jesus will return one day to take those who have accepted Him as Savior to live in Heaven with Him. This means that we have a birthright if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. Once we have accepted Jesus, we are children of God and share in His inheritance (Colossians 3:24; 1 Peter 1:3-4). (D4Y)
The question is "Are you like Esau? Do you value your inheritance in Jesus Christ, or is it worthless to you? Are you living for God's kingdom, or for the world in which you live? How do you know? Examine your heart and the things you do."
*Do you obey God and do what His Word says?
*Do you share the Gospel?
*Do you have self-control?
*Do you live for the moment, caught up in your feelings and desires, or do you think about your future?
"Remember, you are a child of God. You have an inheritance that is waiting for you in heaven. If you value it, then you will want to live the way God tells you to by doing what He says is right, whether it is easy or not. . . You have to decide how much you value God. Is your birthright important to you?" (D4Y)
Father God, thank you for the priceless birthright You have given me. Help me to live in such a way that I can honor this gift. Amen.
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